Deep submersible light assembly

ABSTRACT

A deep submersible light assembly includes a light bulb having electrical conductors connected to it and encapsulated to protect the connections and the conductors from the high pressure water environment while exposing the glass portion of the light bulb. A two-part body assembly receives the light bulb and forms a slot of adjustable size by selecting the position of one body members relative to the other and fixing the selected size of slot with a fastener which secures one part of the body assembly to the other. The slot and the cavity within the body assembly which receives the light bulb is free-flooding so that when the light assembly is employed in a deep submersible environment, the high pressure, cooler water allows the light to be operated substantially in excess of its normal rating thereby producing much greater light. The light bulb may be an ordinary commercially available type since it has been found that several types will withstand the extreme pressures found at up to 4,000 feet ocean depths.

United States Patent [7 21 Inventors Robert L. Seeley;

Edwin C. Butfington, San Diego, Calif. [21] Appl. No. 750,603

[22] Filed Aug. 6, 1968 [45] Patented Feb. 23, 1971 [73] Assignee the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy [54] DEEP SUBMERSIBLE LIGHT ASSEMBLY Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner- Robert P. Greiner Attorneys-Joseph C. Warfield, Jr., George J. Rubens and John W. Mc Laren ABSTRACT: A deep submersible light assembly includes a light bulb having electrical conductors connected to it and encapsulated to protect the connections and the conductors from the high pressure water environment while exposing the glass portion of the light bulb. A two-part body assembly receives the light bulb and forms a slot of adjustable size by selecting the position of one body members relative to the other and fixing the selected size of slot with a fastener which secures one part of the body assembly to the other. The slot and the cavity within the body assembly which receives the light bulb is free-flooding so that when the light assembly is employed in a deep submersible environment, the high pressure, cooler water allows the light to be operated substantially in excess of its normal rating thereby producing much greater light. The light bulb may be an ordinary commercially available type since it has been found that several types will withstand the extreme pressures found at up to 4,000 feet ocean depths.

PATENTED FEB23 I97! INVENTORS ROBERT L. SEELEY E WIN 0. BUFF/NGTO/V ATTORNEYS DEEP SUBMERSIBLE LIGHT ASSEMBLY Statement of Government Interest The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The light assembly of the present invention may be advantageously employed in any deep submersible project requiring a light source, particularly of a relatively small beam, collimated type. For example, the light assembly of the present invention may be advantageously employed in the Deep Submersible Slope Measurement System which is the subject matter of a patent application, S.N. 746,231 filed Jul. 19, 1968 in the names of Edwin C. Buffington and RobertL. Seeley.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In many prior art light sources designed for use in deep submergencc operations, a light bulb was protected within a suitable focusing or beam forming enclosure and covered by a lens or window sealed to the assembly in order to exclude the high pressure water environment from contact with the light source and its electrical connections. These types of prior art deep submergence light sources were vulnerable to problems of leakage, severe pressure differentials between the inside and outside of the enclosure which protected the light source, and were unable to take full advantage of the cooling effect of the surrounding water environment at extreme depths.

With the rapidly increasing studies in the field of oceanography, deep submergence vehicles, and expanding related techniques, etc., it is often required that a suitable light source be provided to operate at extreme depths such as 4,000 feet and more on the ocean floor. The required lights can be of different types, including flood lights to illuminate the ocean floor at these great depths which normally are totally darkened by reason of complete absorption of surface light, focused lights for specific applications, and also beams of light, preferably highly collimated for purposes such as implementing the optical system disclosed in the previously mentioned pending patent application. The present invention is particularly designed to provide the narrow beam of light of a collimated type which is efficient, small in size, and affords the advantage of an adjustable slot type aperture which can be made smaller or larger as desired to provide the required size of light beam.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a free-flooding deep submersible light assembly and includes a light bulb having electrical conductors which are connected to it so as to be connectable to a suitable source of electrical energy for actuating the light bulb.

in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light bulb receptacle and the conductors to which it is connected are encapsulated in an appropriate material to form a unitary assembly excluding high pressure water environment therefrom. A body assembly is provided which is configured to receive the light bulb and permit the conductors to extend out from it for appropriate connection to the electrical source.

The body assembly may include a first member having embossrnents and a second member having recesses configured to slidingly receive the emhossments. The first and second body members are adapted to form therebetween a free-flooding slot for permitting light from the light bulb to pass therethrough. The slidingly engaged embossments and recesses are preferably transverse to the principal axis of the light beam generated by the light bulb. Accordingly, the aperture formed by the slot is adjustable in size by positioning the first body member relative to the second body member and fixing the selected adjustment by appropriate securing means which is provided to secure the two body members together and retain the light assembly therein. The securing means may comprise screws received in threaded recesses in one body member and elongate slots through which the screws pass in the other body member. The principal axes of the slots are substantially parallel to the previously described embossments and the'recesses in which they are slidingly engaged. The entire assembly is so designed and conceived that the high pressure deep submergence water environment is allowed to freeflood around and about the light bulb and in the slot; thus, the colder waters that are present at great ocean depths are employed to cool the light bulb enabling it to be operated at a substantially higher rating than its normal rating with respect to the electrical potential that may be impressed upon it and the current which is caused to flow through the light bulb generating the light. Moreover, because the concept of the present invention is ,such that the light bulb is in immediate contact with the water, there is no necessity for optically compensating for a change in the refractive index such as that which occurs in light emanating from an inner environment through the lens or window into water.

Accordingly, it is a prirrlary object of .the present invention toprovide an improved free-flooding deepsubmersible light assembly for use at great ocean depths.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a free-flooding deep submersible light assembly for generating a beam of light, the size of which may be selectively varied by convenient and simple adjustment of the body portion of the light assembly.

A further object of thepresent invention is to provide such a beam forming, free-flooding deep submersible light assembly which employs a readily available commercial type of bulb in direct contact with the high pressure water environment.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a free-flooding deep submersible light assembly wherein the cooling effect of the extreme ocean depth is employed to improve the efficiency and light generating capability of the light assembly.

These and otheradvantages and features and improvements of the present invention will be more readily appreciated from an understanding of the description of the preferred embodiment which follows'when taken together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, exploded view of a preferred embodiment of thelight assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention in perspective exploded view. It comprises a light bulb 10 which is electrically connected to electrical conductors and 12. The electrical connection means which holds the light bulb 10 is encapsulated in an appropriate material, such as a nonconductive plastic to form a unitary assembly 14 which effectively excludes the high pressure water environment from entering the area of electrical connectionbetween the receptacle l3 and the electrical conductors l1 and 12.

A body assembly includes a first body member 15 which has embossments 16, 17, and 18 extending therefrom. A second body member 19 is of a configuration similar to the first body member 15 but is provided with suitable recesses 20, 21, and 22 which are so positioned and configured to slidingly receive the embossments I6, 17, and 18 on the first body member 15. The encapsulated light bulb assembly 14 is received into a cavity formed between the two body members 15 and 19 and.

positioned so that the light bulb 10 faces a slot formed between the two body members 15 and 19.

The slot 23 may be more clearly seen in FIG. 2 which illustrates an assembled perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in exploded perspective form in FlG. 1. The light emanating from the light bulb 10, accordingly, is directed down the slot 23 to form a beam of relatively high intensity which is projected in a desired direction dependent upon the angular disposition at which the entire light assembly is mounted. The slot 23 can be selectively varied to form different sizes of light beams by slidingly adjusting the position of the first body member relative to the second body member 19 and securing the desired position which effects the desired size of slot 23 by fastening down the screws 24 and 25 which pass through the slots 26 and 27.

it will be noted that the slots 26and 27 are elongate in shape and have principal axes which are substantially parallel to the principal axes of the embossments l6, l7, and 18, as well as the recesses 20, 21, and 22.

The cavity into which the encapsulated light bulb assembly M is received is open to the slot 23 and in turn, the slot 23 is free-flooding, i.e., open to admit the surrounding high pressure water environment at great depths, which is usually a relatively cold temperature, is admitted to free contact with the light bulb 10. This arrangement within the concept of the present invention has a cooling effect on the light bulb which allows it to be operated at much higher ratings than normally could be tolerated, thus increasing the efiiciency of light output from the light assembly. 1

For example, it has been found that a TS l8l5 bulb which is readily commercially available can withstand the extreme pressures to be found at great depths such as 4,000 feet or more and at the same time can be operated at substantially twice the normal potential which is recommended as the maximum for its operation. This results in a much greater light output without damage to the light bulb.

The entire assembly is provided with appropriate connectors 28 and 29 which are adapted to be plugged into a source of electrical energy in a waterproof and pressure proof connection. It will be noted that the embossments 16, 17, and 18, as well as the recesses 20, 21, and 22, are positioned so as to be transverse to the principal axis of the light which emanates from light bulb 10 and is directed down the slot 23. This arrangement provides the desired adjustability of the slot 23 which controls the size of the light beam generated by the assembly.

As it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 could as readily be provided with adjustability in two directions rather than a single direction so as to facilitate control of the size of the light beam generated by the light assembly through adjusting its width as well its depth.

Those knowledgeable in the art will appreciate that the concept of the present invention afiords a light source which is suitable for employment at great depths without the need to protect the light bulb because it has been found that a readily commercially available light bulb, such as the TS 1815, will withstand, without modification, the great pressures developed at deep submergence depths up to 4,000 feet in the ocean and more.

Moreover, the concept of the present invention is such that the assembly is small and readily adaptable to be positioned in a great many different desired dispositions to direct a light beam as may be required or necessary in implementing an optical system such as that disclosed in the previously mentioned pending patent application.

Additionally, the free-flooding aspects of the present invention which are inherent in its concept admit the cooling effect of the water surrounding the light bulb and enables the light assembly to be operated without damage at ratings substantially twice those which are normally recommended for free air operation. Accordingly, the light assembly is significantly more efiicient in generating a high intensity beam as well as inherently eliminating the problems encountered by reason of light beams passing from one environment to another, such as from free air, through a lens or window, and into a different medium as water.

It will be appreciated that many different equivalent means of encapsulation can be employed to effect the concept of the unitary encapsulated assembly of the light source as taught by the present invention and equivalent light bulbs can be efiiciently employed within the teachings and concepts of the present invention.

Similarly, equivalent means of adjustment of the slot and the resultant beam size can readily be employed within the concept and teaching of the present invention and the matching configurations of the two portions of the body assembly can be varied as desired to accommodate different light source assemblies.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. it is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

We claim:

1. A free-ilooding, deep submersible, light beam assembly comprising:

a light bulb having electrical conductors connected thereto for connection to a source of electrical energy;

said light bulb and conductors being encapsulated in a unitary assembly for excluding high pressure water environment;

a body assembly configured to receive said unitary assembly and permit said conductors to extend therefrom, said body assembly including;

a first member having embossments thereon;

a second member having recesses configured to slidingly receive said embossments;

said first and second members forming a free-flooding slot therebetween for permitting light from said light bulb to pass through forming an emergent beam, and said slot being adjustable in size by positioning said first member relative to said second member in sliding engagement of said embossments and recesses and means adjustably securing said first member to said second member.

2. A free-flooding deep submersible light assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein substantially the entire glass portion of said light bulb is in contact with water in a free-flooding cavity between said first and second body members.

3. A free-flooding deep submersible light assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said embossments and recesses are oriented substantially transverse to the principal axis of said emergent beam emanating from said light bulb 4. A free-flooding deep submersible light assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light bulb is of a TS i815 type.

S. A free-flooding deep submersible light assembly as claimed in claim ll wherein said means adjustably securing said first member to said second member comprises screws received in threaded holes in one member and passing through transversely oriented slots in the other member.

6. A free-flooding deep submersible light assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source of electrical energy is of a value for operating said light bulb substantially in excess of its free-air rating.

7. A free-flooding deep submersible light assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source of electrical energy is of a value for operating said light bulb at substantially twice its free-air rating. 

1. A free-flooding, deep submersible, light beam assembly comprising: a light bulb having electrical conductors connected thereto for connection to a source of electrical energy; said light bulb and conductors being encapsulated in a unitary assembly for excluding high pressure water environment; a body assembly configured to receive said unitary assembly and permit said conductors to extend therefrom, said body assembly including; a first member having embossments thereon; a second member having recesses configured to slidingly receive said embossments; said first and second members forming a free-flooding slot therebetween for permitting light from said light bulb to pass through forming an emergent beam, and said slot being adjustable in size by positioning said first member relative to said second member in sliding engagement of said embossments and recesses ; and means adjustably securing said first member to said second member.
 2. A free-flooding deep submersible light assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein substantially the entire glass portion of said light bulb is in contact with water in a free-flooding cavity between said first and second body members.
 3. A free-flooding deep submersible light assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said embossments and recesses are oriented substantially transverse to the principal axis of said emergent beam emanating from said light bulb
 4. A free-flooding deep submersible light assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light bulb is of a TS 1815 type.
 5. A free-flooding deep submersible light assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means adjustably securing said first member to said second member comprises screws received in threaded holes in one member and passing through transversely oriented slots in the other member.
 6. A free-flooding deep submersible light assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source of electrical energy is of a value for operating said light bulb substantially in excess of its free-air rating.
 7. A free-flooding deep submersible light assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source of electrical energy is of a value for operating said light bulb at substantially twice its free-air rating. 